Ventilator system with switchable mechanical and manual ventilators

Abstract

A ventilator adaptor for switching between ventilator devices while maintaining respiratory support to a patient is described. The ventilator adaptor has a first movable element with a first inlet and a second inlet, and a second movable element movably attached to the first movable element and with an outlet. The outlet has an inner diameter of 14.5-15.5 mm, preferably 15 mm, and the first inlet and the second inlet have an outer diameter of 14.5-15.5 mm, preferably 15 mm. The outlet is in fluid communication with the first inlet in a first position or with the second inlet in a second position by moving the second movable element relative to the first movable element thereby aligning the outlet with the first inlet or the second inlet. The outlet may be attached to an endotracheal tube in order to form a ventilation assembly.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A ventilator system, comprising:
 a manual resuscitator device, 
 a mechanical ventilator selected from the group consisting of a transport ventilator, an intensive-care ventilator and a neonatal ventilator, and 
 a ventilator adaptor, comprising:
 a first movable element having a first inlet and a second inlet on an outer surface, wherein the first movable element has a concave inner surface opposite the outer surface; and 
 a second movable element movably attached to the first movable element and having an outlet tube extending in an opposite direction from the first movable element, wherein the second movable element has an outer surface opposite the outlet tube matching the concave inner surface of the first movable element, 
 wherein the inner surface of the first movable element includes circumferential grooves surrounding the first inlet and the second inlet, each groove configured to hold an o-ring in compression between the inner surface of the first movable element and the outer surface of the second movable element and separate the inner surface of the first movable element and the outer surface of the second movable element by a gap of 0.2-2 mm, 
 wherein the first movable element has an integral annular inwardly directed radial lip that fits into an annular radial groove around the circumference of the second movable element, 
 wherein the outlet tube has an inner diameter of 14.5-15.5 mm, 
 wherein the first inlet and the second inlet have an outer diameter of 14.5-15.5 mm, and 
 whereby the outlet tube is in fluid communication with the first inlet in a first position or is in fluid communication with the second inlet in a second position by moving the second movable element relative to the first movable element thereby aligning the outlet tube with the first inlet or the second inlet, and 
 wherein the first movable element is rotatable relative to the second movable element to align the outlet tube with the first inlet in the first position or the second inlet in the second position, 
 
 wherein the mechanical ventilator is attached to the first inlet and the manual resuscitator device is attached to the second inlet. 
 
     
     
       2. The ventilator system of  claim 1 , wherein a first central axis of the first inlet, a second central axis of the second inlet, or both forms an angle of 50°-80° with the surface. 
     
     
       3. The ventilator system of  claim 1 , which, other than the first inlet, the second inlet, and the outlet tube, does not have an additional inlet or outlet. 
     
     
       4. The ventilator system of  claim 1 , further comprising a label, a notch, or a groove to indicate an alignment of the first movable element with respect to the second movable element in the first position or in the second position. 
     
     
       5. A ventilation assembly, comprising:
 the ventilator system of  claim 1  and 
 an endotracheal tube removably attached to the outlet tube. 
 
     
     
       6. The ventilator adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein no collar is present around the circumference of the first or second movable element.